Convertible sofa-bed



July 31, 1962 A. DucRoT CONVERTIBLE som-BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1960 n nu 0 Finn i 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. DUCROT CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED Flo.

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ar/ 3 1 3 8 .H p a 3 July 31, 1962 Filed sept. 2o, 1960 July 3l, 1962 A. DUCROT CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED Filed sept. 2o, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 31, 1962 A. DUcRoT CONVERTIBLE SOFA-BED 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 20, 1960 UnitedStates the seat and back.

Manufacturers of apparatus of this character have been confronted with the problem .of giving to the springmattresses and mattresses or upholstery of the seat and back, respectively, widths adequate for sofa-beds as well as for the bed consisting of the two mattresses unfolded horizontally, to lie in the same pla-ne, by rotation about their common hinge axis. Thus, in order to reduce the apparent height of the back, some manufacturers have been ied -to position the lower edge of the back at a lower level, or -to increase the `angle of inclination of the backforming portion of thev spring-mattress with respect to the seat-forming spring-mattress, this arrangement being obviously attended by added complications in the design of the linkages by which these mattress elements are hingedly mounted, even if these linkages consist of separate paral-lelograms.

However, these solutions constituted only expedients inadequate for providing convertible sofa-beds oiering a convenient bedding width and a back of reduced height in spite of a large bedding width.

This invention is characterized essentially in that the seat-forming spring-mattress and the back-forming spring-mattress are both hingedly mounted but separately from each other on the support of the sofa-'bed so that they can -move from theseat position to the bed position and vice versa without contacting or interfering with each other dui-ing this movement so that a major portion of the back may Ibe concealed behind the seat and have its lower edge positioned very close to the floor according to modern aesthetic requirements.

To this end, the members supporting the seat and ba'ck elements are pivotally mounted on the support of the sofa-bed so that when passing from the sofa position to the bed position the seat element performs a -forward movement at a constant or variable height to Yfree or release its rear edge, while `at the same or another time the back element accomplishes a release movement ending with the juxtaposition of the two elements in the common bedding plane, so that the mattress thickness will not interfere at any time with the movements of these ele.

ments. If desired, the members ,supporting these seat and back elements may be positively connected. with one anothento synchronize these movements. f

The following technical and `'aesthetic advantages are derived from the arrangement broadly set forth herein` above: Y y

(a) In the sofa position the height of the springmattress and mattress constituting the back may be reduced below the seating plane as much as permitted by the yfree space left behind the spring-mattress and mattress constituting the seat, for example down to one inch or so from the floor, if desired.

(b) Whatever be the magnitude of the back portion which is located below the seating plane in the sofa position, the total width of the bed is `always equal to twice the seat width. Y Y Y =(c) The width of the two mattresses is integrally equal, in the bed position, to the width of the two spring-mattress elements.

(d) According to the type of hinge For linkage system utilized, the bedding plane may lie either level 'with the seating plane, or above this plane, at

(e) Whatever be the width of the back element which is retracted below the seat-forming spring-mattress and mattress assembly, the lower adjacent edges of the spring'- mattresses will be adjacent to each other in the bed position. v

(f) By retracting one portion of the back-forming element below the plane of the seat-forming element; it is possible to increase the width of the back portion emerging above the seating plane of this seat-forming element, so that a wider spring-mattress portion may be had without increasing the over-ail dimensions.

However, this arrangement is yattended bya diiiiculty when mattresses independent of the iixed springmattresses are used; now it is advantageous to have separate and detachable mattresses, notably @for tucking in the bed-clothes, but in this case it is evident that when the to the` sofa posi.-

spring-mattress element with a hinged flap extending throughout the length of the sofa and serving as a means for supporting the mattress when vthe. spring-mattress is moved to the sofa position; this iiap is connected with the control links so as to collapse under the spring-mattresses in the bed position.

Various forms of embodiment of the linkage means of the convertible sofa-bed of this invention will nowbe described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: k 1

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side-elevational view of a convertible sofa-bed without arm-rests, the bed position being in the longitudinal direction of the sofa; FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the elements during the passage from the sofa-bed to the bed position;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view showing the sofa in the bed position; Y

FIGURE 4 is` a fragmentary vertical section taken upon the line IV-*IV of FIG. 1; Y t

FIGURES 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 3 respectively, but showing a modiiied embodiment of the I convertible sofa-bed of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3 in its sofa position, complete'withupholstery; Y Y f FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the modified sofabed of FIGS. 5 and 6; and

FIGURES 9 and 10 are diagrammatic side-elevational views showing another form of embodiment of the convertible sofa-bed of this invention, inthe sofa position and in the bed position respectively, this vapparatus comprising Ia ilap for retaining the back mattress in the sofa position.

In the form of embodiment illustrated fin FIGS. 1 to 3,'the seat forming element 3 supporting thespring mattress 5 or like upholstery constituting the seat of the apparatus is carried on either side by a pairof links `9, 10 pivoted like the elements of a parallel-motion device on the one hand on the base of ther spring-mattress 5 Lat l two points 14, 30 located the one at the front of the seat and the other at the rear, and on the other hand on pivot pins 11 and 12 carried at the same height by the metal frame 31 consisting for example of side metal members braced by transverse tubes 33 and 34 extending at right angles thereto.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that as a consequence of the pivoting movements of these links 9, 10 about the xed pivot pins 11, 12, the seat forming element 3 is lifted and moved forwards so as to free its rear edge; in these two extreme positions the spring-mattress 5 rests upon the stop 13 consisting for example of the longitudinal front panel of the sofa.

The spring-mattress 6 of the back-forming element 4 is carried on either side by a pair of links 19, 20 pivoted on the one hand on pivot pins 17, 18 disposed endwise and at about mid-height of the spring-mattress 6 and on the other hand on xed pivot pins 21, 22 at the same height, which are carired by the frame 31.

It will be seen in FIG. 1 that in the sofa position the back forming element 4 is retracted by about one-half of its total height behind the seat forming element 3 until it engages at either end a stop 23 provided to this end on the frame 31; .the movements of links 19, 20 about their xed pivot pins 21 and 22 permit of rocking the back (FIG. 2) until the back element is c0planar and in endto-end engagement with the spring-mattress 5 of the seatorming element 3 (FIG. 3).

In this position (FIG. 3) the two mattresses 5, 6 contact each other and lie in the horizontal plane of the bed without having had any opportunity of contacting or interfering with each other during the conversion movements.

A rod 24 interconnecting the two links 10 and 20 permits of locking the back-forming element in the sofa position.

The rod 24 is formed at one end with a slot 40 slidably engaged by the pin S1 carried by the extension of link 10, as shown.

To transform the sofa into a bed, the operator simply pulls the seat-forming element 3 forwards so that the pivot pin 51 carried by the extension of link 10 -travels in the slot 40 of link 24 and frees the movements of the back-forming element 4, so that by exerting a slight pressure on this element it will move to its bed position.

During the reverse movement the back forming element 4 is moved from its bed position to its back position, whereafter the operator simply pushes the seat forming element 3 to its initial seat-forming position.

If desired, and as shown in FIG. 4 the legs 32 of the convertible sofa-bed may be provided with pivot studs 49 engaged by sockets 50 rigid with the arm-rests or end panels 1,

Thus, simple metal frames may be delivered, on which the upholsterer or the house-decorator may mount any desired spring-mattresses and mattresses, and tit the arm rests or end panels on the legs. Y

Of course, many types of linkages may be provided for producing the movements of the spring-mattresses 5 and 6 according to this invention.

FIGURES 5 and 6 illustrate another modiiied embodiment wherein the links 9, supporting the springmattresses are pivoted on pivot pins 38, 39 carried by the transverse member 31 secured between the legs 32, the spring-mattress 6 being guided, on either side, on the one hand by a fixed pin 41 rigid with the aim-rest 1 and sliding in a slot or slideway 42 formed in the back element and on the other hand by a link 43 pivoted at 44 on the transverse member 31. The two movements are combined by the provision of a link 37 pivoted on the ends 45 and 46 of links 9 and 43 respectively, as shown.

As already explained, the counter-clockwiserotation of the parallel links 9 `and 10 will move the seat element forwards, and the simultaneous counter-clockwise movement of link 43, which is -combined with the displacement of the xed pin 41 in the slideway 42, will lift and rock the back-forming element 4 until its lies at in the bed position and is co-planar with the seat element.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a sofa-bed in which the seatforming element and the back-forming element have the same width, and FIGURE 8 illustrates a sofa-bed in which the back-forming element, wider than the seatforming element, has a greater apparent height.

In the modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 and l0 each lower bell-crank lever 19 connects at pivot pin 17 with the lower portion of the spring-mattress 6 and with the fixed horizontal pivot pin 21 on either side of the apparatus and comprises a shorter arm 52 pivoted at S3 on a link 54 having its other end pivoted at 55 on a ap 56 pivoted in turn at 57 on the bottom of the back spring-mattress 6.

In the sofa position these hinge connections are so adjusted that the flap 55 acts as a rest for the mattress 6 of the back supported by its lower stop or rest 23.

When converting the sofa into a bed, the lever 19 is moved to the position shown in the drawing as in FIG. 3 of the rst form of embodiment, and carries along the link 54 folding the tiap 56 beneath the spring-mattress 6 without any interference from the lateral links 9 and 10 actuating this spring-mattress.

The pivotal relationship between the bell-crank lever 19 and link 54 for actuating the ap 56 is determined by the fact that the flap remains inclined to retain the mattress 6 until 4the back forming element 4 is nearly in its horizontal position in which the flap is rapidly retracted under the spring-mattresses- Of course, this ap 56 may consist of a light-weight, perforated frame as its only function is to support the mattress in the sofa position.

In FIGS. 9 and l0 there is shown in broken lines at 5S the manner in which the back-forming element 4 may be extended to increase the bed surface.

What I claim is:

l. A convertible sofa-bed comprising a main frame, two independent spring-mattress elements adapted to receive the seat and back mattresses, two pairs of lateral links forming a parallel motion structure supporting the seat and causing by their rotation about their axes of pivotal mounting on said frame a movement of translation of said seat, another set of two pairs of lateral links supporting the back and pivoted on said frame at points located beneath the level of the pivotal mounting of said seat links and causing during their rotation about their pivot axes a tilting movement of said back, a pair of lateral rods for connecting the pair of rear links of said seat with the pair of rear links of said back, each lateral connecting rod being pivotally attached at one end through a slot engaged by a pin carried by a bent extension of the rear seat link and at the other end at an intermediate point on the rear back link, and stop means on said frame for limiting the displacements of said links in either direction.

2. A convertible sofa-bed comprising a main frame, two independent spring-mattress elements adapted to receive the seat and back mattresses, two pairs of lateral links forming a parallel motion structure supporting the seat and causing by their rotation about their axes of pivotal mounting on said frame a movement of translation of said seat, another set of two pairs of lateral links supporting the back and pivoted on said frame at points located beneath the level of the pivotal mounting of said seat links and causing during their rotation about their pivot axes a tilting movement of said back, a pair of lateral rods for connecting the pair of rear links of said seat with the pair of rear links of said back, each lateral connecting rod being pivotally attached at one end through a slot engaged by a pin carried by a bent extension of the rear seat link and at the other end at an intermediate point on the rear back link, and stop means on said frame for limiting the displacements of said links in either direction, and a longitudinal flap hingedly mounted on the lower inner edge of said back, said tiap having each end responsive to a connecting rod pivotally attached to `a ben-t portion of `the front link of said back, whereby in the sofa position said flap extends vat right angles to said back.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 637,976 Rolph Nov. 28, 1899 6 Braznell Nov. 10, 1925 Holt Aug. 11, 1926 DeMaria Mar. 9, 1954 Norman Mar. 24, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 27, 1936 Canada Sept. 15, 1959 Germany Jan. 18, 1951 

